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One of the Lehigh Valley’s top infectious disease experts unpacks why people should stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19

Written by Victoria Scialfa on March 26, 2020

One of the Lehigh Valley’s top infectious disease experts unpacks why people should stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19

By K.C. Lopez

March 26, 2020

A worker verifies a coronavirus drive-thru testing appointment at a Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program (VEIP) station in Curtis Bay, Md., Wednesday, April 1, 2020. Maryland opened three drive-thru testing sites for residents who are symptomatic or at high risk of complications from COVID-19. The tests are offered at three vehicle emissions testing sites in Anne Arundel, Charles and Harford counties. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

As of 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, Lehigh And Northampton counties are under a stay at home order. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf says residents are not to leave their homes unless tasks are required for health and safety.

At the same time, area health officials are doubling down on that message in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-10. WLVR’s K.C. Lopez recently spoke with St. Luke’s University Health Network’s head of infectious disease, Dr. Jeffery Jahre. He says there is evidence of community spread of the virus in the city of Bethlehem.

“I think it’s important for the public to know that we now have intercommunity spread. There are now cases where people are catching it from other people,” said Jahre.